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Skype Mobile Updated, Still No Calls Over Wi-Fi

An update to Skype is available and at first glance seemed like it included one major update, calls over wi-fi! Well if you read the description of this update a little closer, you can see that you can still only makes calls over 3G, but it will no longer kick off your wi-fi as it did in previous versions. While this is a much needed update, many of you will be disappointed to not have an option for wifi-only. Sorry folks!

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I can turn off my 3g and do skype on WiFi. I put it in airplane mode and then turn the WiFi back on and skype works great….

Kevin

Weird I can't find Skype in the marketplace, and even though I already have it on my Droid, I can't find it on the list of downloaded apps in the marketplace.

Kevin

Weird I can't find Skype in the marketplace, and even though I already have it on my Droid, I can't find it on the list of downloaded apps in the marketplace.

tammygal

Nimbuzz is the way to go! You can make and take Skype calls over wi-fi, you can access Yahoo IM, AIM, Windows Live Messenger, and several other instant message clients as well. And it's free, although I do believe there is a payment method available for Skype-to-phone calls.

Kkpp4ever

i cant seem to find the link on the market…anyone has the apk file?

Armyof2

I don't get good signal in the house..I don't get stable 3g…this going over wifi would have been awesome.

BigFonz

It might be because I'm outside of the US though. I'll have to wait till I get back to see.

BigFonz

Won't connect over wifi on my DROID. 2.2

BigFonz

It might be because I'm outside of the US though. I'll have to wait till I get back to see.

http://twitter.com/kirilv Kiril

nope. read the whole post. the app does not work over wifi. it just allows wifi to be on and still use 3G for the app. before, you had to turn wifi off in order to use skype.

http://twitter.com/BiGGiE_Q Biggie Quan

I'm guessing the reason I can't see skype in the market is my leaked 2.2 on the droid x

1bad69z28

Maybe Verizon is holding them back by not allowing them to make calls over WiFi, just a guess

http://twitter.com/jbernard703 Jeffrey Bernard

Skype thinks my incredible is not a verizon phone with cyanogen 6. Hopefully they can fix that even though I never use skype. I would prefer they let google voice make VOIP calls.

http://twitter.com/kirilv Kiril

i doubt that will happen. the skype calls are a verizon feature, not a google feature (or a skype feature for that matter). all of the cell provides would never let that happen (can you say network crash?). maybe when 4G is stable and more widespread this would be okay.

ericsorensen

And this is why video calls can't be done with the phone. Back when Fring used Skype, you could make video calls from your phone. I wonder if that “tiff” between them wasn't a favor to Verizon to keep the Skype exclusive. And then Verizon won't allow WIFI calls so they can count against minutes (for the few without unlimited plans?)

I really don't like Skype right now. I use them to make video calls from my computer all the time, and why not from my phone? And Verizon is being a chump here, too.

C Henry94

Works with Sapphire 1.0/Watermark'D

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=705034 Jeff Simpson

So, it never actually made calls over 3G anyway. It makes a normal voice call to some gateway system that converts the call to Skype. That's why you can't do it over WiFi – the app doesn't actually DO anything Skype-related – it just sets up a phone call which verizon looks for on your bill and doesn't charge for.

http://www.johnrpattison.com John R. Pattison

Thank you SO MUCH for pointing this out. So many people are completely oblivious to how Skype on Verizon Wireless Android phones actually works. It amazes me, because you can clearly see it making a voice call to a gateway service. I have seen SOOO many articles making references to consuming your data plan — very frustrating.

http://twitter.com/kirilv Kiril

i think this system is actually better than using 3G data, aside from the fact that it can't do video. it makes much more sense to do that on a phone.

also, it's annoying to ear people complain all the time that it cannot use wifi. it doesn't use wifi because it is an exclusively verizon app. if it used wifi, anyone can install it on any android phone and use it over wifi.

now, why skype won't release an actual skype app is a better question. is there stigma from the cell providers? an exclusivity contract with verizon? hmm…

http://twitter.com/shoman24v Walid Almasri

Didn't work with Cyanogen Mod.

http://twitter.com/macsmeister JD Guitard

Dang this SUCKS. Does anyone know if this can be fixed? If not I'm gonna have to go back to stock… grrrrr

Hjacoby64

I just installed nimbuzz on droid x…… easy to set up and it uses your existing SKYPE account. I shut off my cell signal and connected to my wi-fi in airplane mode. Called my home number and it worked! it even took a few cents off my skype balance so i know it was skype to phone.

It's a free fix!

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